I came across this interesting quote about Pete Sampras recently in Sports Illustrated about his 1996 French Open semifinal loss to Kafelnikov.

"In his loss, he showed the frailty that could keep him from being remembered as one for the ages."

Of course, at the time, Sampras had 7 Grand Slams to his name. Just four months later he would show one of the greatest displays of grit and toughness on a tennis court ever in defeating Corretja at the U.S. Open.

Yea because so many past all time GOATs have won the Career Grand Slam.

Sampras won a few big clay tournaments like the Davis Cup and Rome and beat damn near all the best dirt ballers (barring Kuerten) that the decade of the 90s had to offer.. Id say Sampras still has a GOAT-like career (even without the French) because of all the other things he has on his resume

Another thing to point out, Sampras' era is highly regarded as the most diversified era by conditions of all time.

It was none of this "3 slams a year on grass" or "Slow high bounce surfaces all year" era

How wrong they were. I have him as the GOAT when he's playing at peak level. Unstoppable.

I notice you have a British location so I'm presuming you are a Brit like me. If that's the case, I'm curious as to why you list Murray as your 3rd most hated player? I hope it's not got anything to do with that silly business over the England football joke from 7 years ago? I hope you don't mind me asking.

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"I have to apologise because I clearly pushed Roger so hard on Thursday!" (Andy Murray on why Federer couldn't play the WTF final).

I notice you have a British location so I'm presuming you are a Brit like me. If that's the case, I'm curious as to why you list Murray as your 3rd most hated player? I hope it's not got anything to do with that silly business over the England football joke from 7 years ago? I hope you don't mind me asking.

I'm guessing either his play style or his Scottish heritage.

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You don't compromise convictions to be compassionate- Rick Warren

That's possible but many English tennis fans took strongly against Murray after he exchanged jokes about the England and Scotland football teams with Tim Henman back in 2006. Scotland had failed to qualify for the World Cup that year and Henman teasingly asked Murray, "So who are you going to support now?" Murray, equally teasingly, replied, "Probably anyone who England are playing against". It was all very lighthearted aand the football rivalry between England and Scotland football fans is very well known . But many English fans completely missed the context and the joke and started accusing Murray of being 'anti-English'.

Needless to say, Murray has denied any such thing. While much of this ill-feeling has died down with Murray's increasing success, there are still lingering resentments which is why I was curious about the poster's reasons given that his/her signature has an English address.

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"I have to apologise because I clearly pushed Roger so hard on Thursday!" (Andy Murray on why Federer couldn't play the WTF final).

That's possible but many English tennis fans took strongly against Murray after he exchanged jokes about the England and Scotland football teams with Tim Henman back in 2006. Scotland had failed to qualify for the World Cup that year and Henman teasingly asked Murray, "So who are you going to support now?" Murray, equally teasingly, replied, "Probably anyone who England are playing against". It was all very lighthearted aand the football rivalry between England and Scotland football fans is very well known . But many English fans completely missed the context and the joke and started accusing Murray of being 'anti-English'.

Needless to say, Murray has denied any such thing. While much of this ill-feeling has died down with Murray's increasing success, there are still lingering resentments which is why I was curious about the poster's reasons given that his/her signature has an English address.

Why did Murray do that? He knows that there are psychopathic Footie fans out there in the UK...

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You don't compromise convictions to be compassionate- Rick Warren

I came across this interesting quote about Pete Sampras recently in Sports Illustrated about his 1996 French Open semifinal loss to Kafelnikov.

"In his loss, he showed the frailty that could keep him from being remembered as one for the ages."

Of course, at the time, Sampras had 7 Grand Slams to his name. Just four months later he would show one of the greatest displays of grit and toughness on a tennis court ever in defeating Corretja at the U.S. Open.

Looking back I think that if Pete had made it past Kafelnikov that year, he would likely win the French Open title. His GS finals record is really amazing after all.

Why did Murray do that? He knows that there are psychopathic Footie fans out there in the UK...

It was a jokey exchange between Murray and Henman just thrown out in the heat of the moment. It wasn't meant to be taken seriously.

I think we have to allow that there is always, even at the best of times, a certain amount of suspicion harboured between the different parts of the UK eg. English towards Scots, Scots towards English etc. Some people don't need much of an excuse to give full rein to this suspicion hence the lingering resentment towards Murray from some English types because of that old football joke.

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"I have to apologise because I clearly pushed Roger so hard on Thursday!" (Andy Murray on why Federer couldn't play the WTF final).

It was a jokey exchange between Murray and Henman just thrown out in the heat of the moment. It wasn't meant to be taken seriously.

I think we have to allow that there is always, even at the best of times, a certain amount of suspicion harboured between the different parts of the UK eg. English towards Scots, Scots towards English etc. Some people don't need much of an excuse to give full rein to this suspicion hence the lingering resentment towards Murray from some English types because of that old football joke.

Aren't there other forms of resentment besides the English and the Scots? Such as the Welsh towards the English and the Northern Irish towards Scots?

I find it odd that the non-Irish find the topic uncomfortable...

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You don't compromise convictions to be compassionate- Rick Warren

I notice you have a British location so I'm presuming you are a Brit like me. If that's the case, I'm curious as to why you list Murray as your 3rd most hated player? I hope it's not got anything to do with that silly business over the England football joke from 7 years ago? I hope you don't mind me asking.

It's because he's the most brattish, arrogant, spoilt, boring, long necked rat face to play tennis at the top level. Nearly everytime he loses a point he fakes injury and starts clutching his hamstring or neck. Yet when he wins a point he gos totally over the top screaming at his mum while she screams back. No class what so ever and just not my kind of player. It has nothing to do with the England football comment. I hate the national team myself and I'm not very patrotic. I go on holiday to the US every year so I have more feeling for the states then England.

It's because he's the most brattish, arrogant, spoilt, boring, long necked rat face to play tennis at the top level. Nearly everytime he loses a point he fakes injury and starts clutching his hamstring or neck. Yet when he wins a point he gos totally over the top screaming at his mum while she screams back. No class what so ever and just not my kind of player. It has nothing to do with the England football comment. I hate the national team myself and I'm not very patrotic. I go on holiday to the US every year so I have more feeling for the states then England.

I'm sure he was at his peak many times on clay, but he was always stoppable. Every single time.

Yes on clay he was very stoppable but on grass and on fast hardcourt unbeatable while at peak level. Watch 1999 Wimbledon final and Us open 2001 v Agassi. Hell even watch the YEC matches against Agassi 1999 and 1996 and Becker 1996 and 1994. Unstopple on that surface. Tell me who has the game to beat him?